The number of exhibitors of machines and accessories for manufacturing nonwovens and technical textiles at ITMA was never as big as at the ITMA 2007 in Munich. The 64 exhibitors of machines and accessories for nonwovens production will occupy an area in two halls that is 50 percent larger than in Birmingham 2003. For technical textiles, there will be machines, accessories and technologies in all trade fair halls ranging from fibre manufacturing to making-up.

This reflects the increasing significance of nonwovens and technical textiles in the global market. Production of nonwovens increased by 13 percent to almost one million tons in China in 2006, and it increased by about 5 percent to 1.5 million tons in Europe. By the year 2010, global production of nonwovens will reach almost seven million tons with annual growth rates between 6 and 10 percent (depending on the region and type of nonwovens).

Nonwovens engineering is gaining increasingly in importance in this, because the need for composite products with integration of functional elements is growing continually. At the same time, an increase in the need for more demanding nonwovens with small lot sizes can be observed for niche markets, while only low growth rates can be seen in mass markets, especially for hygienic nonwovens. Current price increases for raw materials and energy also make it imperative for the nonwovens industry to develop lighter nonwovens with comparable product features. Textile engineering is reacting to these trends with the development of customised solutions for nonwovens production.

Subsequent further processing of nonwovens (e.g., via finishing) is becoming increasing important, so that the placement of the nonwovens machinery trade fair halls next to the finishing machinery sector makes an optimum trade fair visit possible.

Woven fabrics and other textiles (e.g., braided or warp knitted) also profit from the quantity of the globally growing market for technical areas of use. The world market for technical filament yarn (polyester and polyamide) is doubling to 3.6 million tons from 2000 to 2010. Selection of the most appropriate fibre material is decisive for the manufacture of functional textiles, but finishing and making-up also have decisive influence on the properties and performance of a textile product. Consequently, the development of technical textiles, especially in niche segments, requires product and market know-how, which can only be achieved through close cooperation between fibre manufacturers, research institutes and textile manufacturers in collaboration with the textile machinery industry.

At ITMA 2007 in Munich, the suppliers of machines and accessories for manufacturing nonwovens and technical textiles will present their latest developments live to an international trade public and consequently make a decisive contribution to making ITMA the “Place for Innovation”.

About ITMA

In the halls of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre, the latest products of the international textile machinery industry will be presented on 13 - 20 September 2007. The European umbrella organisation CEMATEX, which comprises nine European member associations, is the owner of ITMA and has selected the Textile Machinery Association of the VDMA to engage Messe München to hold the event in 2007. This leading international trade fair of the textile machinery industry takes place at intervals of four years at different exhibition locations and attracts around 100,000 visitors and 1,300 exhibitors from all over the world. ITMA 2007 will occupy the entire exhibition area of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre.

About Messe München International (MMI)

Messe München International (MMI, Munich Trade Fairs International Group) is one of the world’s leading trade-fair companies. It organises around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and key high-tech industries. Each year over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part in the events in Munich. In addition, MMI organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America.